Catherine Maclean was charged with aggravated assault following an incident at an oil terminal in Thurrock last Wednesday. Maclean, from Hassocks, West Sussex, was sentenced to pay 9 409 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to trespassing in Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, Essex police said. Just Stop Oil has been launching a series of blockades of petrol terminals in the south-east of England and the Midlands since April 1, in a bid to force the government to end its dependence on fossil fuels. Demonstrations in Essex on April 13 focused on the Purfleet Oil Terminal, the Inter Terminal in Grays and the Navigator Terminal in Thurrock. The group said it hoped the blockade would “significantly affect the availability of fuel at petrol stations across the Southeast”.
“You will be arrested”
Assistant Chief of Staff Rachel Nolan said: “Unfortunately, Mrs Maclean’s actions mean she has a criminal record. “No one – at least not all of my officers – wants to see this happen, but it is a timely reminder that if you come to Essex to commit a crime, although you may see it as a protest, you will be arrested, charged and charged. this is likely to lead to a criminal conviction. “We are not against the protests in any way. “Individuals have a protected right to protest, but these incidents have unfortunately turned into a crime and we have no choice but to act and seek permission from the Crown Prosecution Service to charge people.” Two other activists – James Skeet, 34, of Drayton Street, Manchester, and Stephanie Aylett, 27, of High Oaks, St Albans – appeared next to Maclean at Saturday’s hearing. Both have pleaded guilty to aggravated breach of warranty and breach of bail, Essex police said, and were remanded in custody and will appear again in Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court next week. So far, 23 people have been charged in connection with the Thurrock riot since early April, Essex police said, and 461 arrests have been made.
